"Under the Sea" Exhibit to Open at Waukegan Public Library

Online, November 22, 2010 (Newswire.com) - Rainbow Fish and The Little Mermaid will soon enjoy a more natural habitat. These storybooks are getting a nautical new home as the Waukegan Public Library launches "Under the Sea," an expansive interactive exhibit in its children's department. Replacing "Dig the Dinosaurs," the exhibit will feature life-size models of ships and sea creatures, maritime crafts, and hands-on, bilingual displays about life undersea. The library will host an "Under the Sea" grand opening Dec. 5, from 1 to 4 p.m., with live performances and free refreshments.

"We're a construction zone now from the ground up," said Elizabeth Stearns, Assistant Director of Community Services. "Outside, workers are installing a new roof; inside, they're building a new coral reef." The library's Early Learning Center and part of the children's department will be closed starting Nov. 29 while staff and volunteers assemble the multifaceted exhibit.

"Under the Sea" murals and displays will teach visitors about the marine food chain, from plankton to mammals, and how to identify whales by their songs. In the Early Learning Center, children can try on pirate costumes, board a pirate ship and even learn how to talk like a pirate. For the pre-teen crowd, workers are building a replica of a Lake Michigan shipwreck with a built-in video documentary about other wrecks in the Great Lakes.

Two students from Prairie Crossing Charter School in Grayslake, Emma Mitchiner and Jessica Mitchell, are also designing a display on water pollution for their eighth-grade class project.

"It all started when we heard about the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico," said Emma. "We were concerned about the effect of water pollution on our earth, and we wanted to raise awareness about the issue."

During the exhibit grand opening, Kidworks Touring Theatre Company will conduct two live performances of "Sea Creature and Me" at 2 and 3 p.m. These interactive workshops feature audience volunteers as actors, allowing children practice their improv skills while learning about sea life.

The library is inviting kids to dress up as their favorite sea character and compete for best-costume prizes at the opening. Families can also take part in free crafts and face painting, enjoy complimentary refreshments, and get their pictures taken with SpongeBob and other sea creatures. As an incentive to come early, the first hundred visitors to the exhibit will take home a free water bottle.

Funding for "Under the Sea" comes primarily from private donors and corporate sponsors, including generous donations from North Shore Gas and LaFarge. To learn how to become an "Under the Sea" sponsor, call Linda Gfesser at (847) 623-2041, ext. 244.